Mixing unit for refrigerators



July 27,1948. M. TATE 2,446,066

MIXING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 23, 1945 MMerze Tale July 27, 1948. M. TATE MIXING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATORS 2Sheets-Sheet 2;

Fild Dec. 25, 1943 Patented July 27, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEIVHXING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATORS Merzc Tate, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 23, 1943, Serial No. 515,411

It is particularly aimed to provide a construction which is exceedinglysimple, practical and relatively inexpensive.

More specifically, I aim to provide a unit in connection with thefreezing compartment operated by a motor mounted by such compartment onthe exterior and having a rotatable part extending through the top fordriving connection with mixing apparatus and detachably engageable withsuch parts, and compactly mounted within the freezing compartment insuch manner that available space may be used for various purposes.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the description following taken in connection withaccompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of an electric refrigerator lookingtoward the front, with the refrigerating compartment open and equippedwith my improvement;

Figure 2 is a substantially central vertical sectional view through myimprovement;

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view of the container;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the supporting means for the container;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail section showing the indentationengagement between the base of the container and the support; and

Figure 7 is an elevation of a conventional type double rotary beaterwhich may be used in the container or mixer.

A refrigerator is fragmentarily suggested in the drawings at ID, inwhich H is the conventional freezing compartment. This construction isto be considered as conventional as the invention is adaptable to anyelectric refrigerator or the equivalent.

Within the casing or housing of the freezing unit H, I dispose acontainer I2 as compactly as desired and of any desired capacity, forinstance, two quarts. It is clear that this container I 2 may be made ofglass, any desired plastic, metal or other material. It has a removablecover I3 of the same or different material as the container l 2 and thecover has a depending rim M for sur- 2 Claims. (01. 62-414) roundingengagement with the upper edge of the container. i

The container and associated parts are adapted to be mounted Within theunit II in any suitable manner, but preferably on a removable shelfM'which may have an extension or tongue l5 at the front to facilitatemanipulation. This shelf l4 may rest and slide on ledges l6 arranged atany suitable elevation within the unit H and beneath the ledges Hi, thespace not actually used while the mixer is being used, may also beutilized for instance, to receive trays l1.

Upon the top of the shelf I4, I mount a mat or block i8, eitherpermanently, or removably, upon which the container i2 rests and is heldagainst rotation. This end is preferably accomplished by providinglongitudinally extending ribs IS on the under surface of the base ofcontainer l2, for removable engagement in grooves 20 in the uppersurface of the mat or block l8. Additionally, a central depression 2| isprovided in said base of the constainerwhich provides anexterlor bossand a corresponding depression 22 to accommodate the boss, is providedcentrally in the upper surface of the mat or block [8.

Within the container I2 I use a suitable dasher such as that disclosedat 23. This dasher has a central shaft 24 whose lower end is rounded andis journaled in the depression 2| as shown. Its upper end is journaledin a tubular bearing 25 provided on the cover l3, and which bearingpermanently mounts packing 26 for engagement with the shaft 24. Suchshaft has a squared extension or the equivalent 21. l

Said dasher is adapted to be driven by a switch controlled electricmotor 28 which is separate and additional to the equipment of therefrigerator, the same being of the cushioned and encased type withlifetime lubricant sealed within. The switch may be provided at anysuitable location. This motor has brackets 29 mounting it on top of theunit II and its main shaft or an extension at 30 depends through acentral opening 3i in the top wall of the unit H and has a square orother shaped socket 32 corresponding with the configuration of'theextension 21. As a result of this construction, rotation of the shaft3.0 by the motor 28 will rotate the dasher, while the container 12 isheld stationary. The container may be raised sufficiently to disengageribs l9 from the grooves 20 and the depression 2| from the depression22', so that shelf I4 and block Hi can be withdrawn from beneathcontainer l2 so that the container can be lowered to disengage theextension 2'! of the dasher from the socket 32, and the units removedfrom the freezing unit. The reverse operation takes place in replacingthe unit for a freezing, stirring or cooling operation.

Any preferred type of dasher 23 may be used. As shown, this dasher hasblades 33 alternating from opposite sides thereof, so that spaces occurtherebetween. It Will also be noted that these blades arereversely,curved inwardly. atmtheir free ends as ,at 34 in order toscrapeeeffectivelythe inner wall of the container and give the materialtherein a centripetal motion.

It is to be understood that if the motor is removed, I may provide anysuitable irtype iio'f closure for the opening 3 l.

In lieu of the dasher 23, a double rotarybeater of conventional form asdisclosed iinqEigure might be substituted. The beaters are shown at 35journaled on vertical rods 35' carried -by-an arch shaped support 36,which includes a shaft portiont'! to fit:the bearing 25 and be .engagedby the packing 28 and also a squared extension? similar-to that a'tlzltofunction-in the'samevmanner.

It is clear-that th'eunit isto be :used' for =agitating any' desiredmixtures, for cooling them, :or -for making ice cream, sherbets,- or theequivalent. The motor, as StatecL-isunder switch controLan'd thetemperature'within the unit I lis'controllable by the usual mechanism inmodern refrigerators. The dasher 23 may be made in a single piece andthe curvature at 34 causes theibladeto impart a. centrifugal motion tothe contents of=tl-ie container-as well as toscrapethe same 'from theinner surface of the lattenpreventingthem premature- 0 1y freezing tothe: sides 'of thecontainer arid the alternate arrangement. of theblades and openings enables the whipping of mixtures-atthe centerandbeating in an upward direction.

The-parts may be readily removedand-replaced,

and detached for-washing and cleaning.

' Various changes -ma y -be resorted to provided 4 they fall within thespirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention: 1. In combination with the freezing unit of a 5refrigerator, a support therein having a groove, a receptacle resting onthe support and having a rib engaged in the groove, said receptaclehaving a depression exteriorly providing a boss, said support having adepression receiving the boss, a 10 coveron the receptacle, adasher'iwithim the receptacle having a shaft journaled in "the first-.mentioned depression, said shaft extending through and above the cover,a motor mounted on i'the-xexterior ofthe unit, said motorhaving a 1,5rotatable part extending through the top of the unit, -anddetachablyengaged with said shaft to \drive/thesame.

2. In combination with the freezing unit of a refrigerator, a supporttherein having a groove, a 20 receptacle restin on thesupport and havinga rib engaged: in:-the groove, =said :receptaclahauing a depression:exteriorly providing. ELIJIJOSS, said-support; having ",3- depressionreceivingv the aboss, -.a cover on the receptacle, a dasherwithin-the-,-z:eceptacle having a shaft journaledpin the zfirstmentioneddepression, said tshaft ':extending through and above the cover,.-amotonmounted-on therexteriorcof the unit, said motorzhavingararotatablepart extending through :t-he top 10f the 0 unit, an-d detachably-aenaged awithesaimshaftito drive-the same, said cover: having a bearin -enaed -rbyesaid shaft, and said-rb earingshaving "Name :Date' Powers Jan.f6,: 1"931 Number

